Fodder scam case: Lalu Yadav sentenced to 14 years in prison, son Tejashwi alleges 'threat' to father's life

DDN CorrespondentPosted on 24 Mar, 2018 at 04:15:PM IST

RJD chief Lalu Prasad was sentenced to 14 years in jail in fodder scam case today. Soon after, his son and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav alleged a threat to his father's life.

"I am sure there is a threat to Lalu ji's life, looking at the conspiracy being planned by BJP," Yadav said after his father was sentenced in connection with a fourth fodder scam case.

He also promised to challenge the special CBI court order in the high court.

"We will decide further strategy on the basis of overall judgement in all four cases," he said.

Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi, however, dismissed all allegations, and instead advised Lalu to "appeal in court" if he feared for his life.

"If a person is under police custody and fears for his life, he must go and appeal in court. What is posing the threat to him? How can he be in danger when no one is allowed to meet him," Modi demanded to know.

Lalu was today awarded two separate sentences of seven years - to be served consecutively - and fined Rs 60 lakh for the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from Dumka treasury in the early 1990s.

He will have to spend one more year in prison for each of the two sets of sections for default or non-payment of fine, explained advocate Vishnu Sharma.

Sentences were also pronounced for 18 other convicts in the case.

The court had on March 19 held the 69-year-old RJD chief guilty along with 18 others in connection with the Dumka treasury case.

The fifth case, related to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139 crore from Doranda treasury in Ranchi, is still pending with the court.

The RJD chief is currently receiving medical treatment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi, after complaints of chest pain and discomfort in jail.